Buffalo River State Park is a Minnesota state park near Glyndon, covering 1,355 acres. Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. It offers camping or lodging. Entry needs a state park vehicle permit, $7 for a day, as the DNR fees page said on October 19, 2026.
- 1,355acres
- Glyndonmailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Hiking trails along the Buffalo River
- Great picnicking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Native prairie landscape
Plan It In Three Lines
- Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Cost: a $7 one-day vehicle permit or a $35 year-round permit, per the DNR fees page of October 19, 2026; confirm before you go.
- Pets: leashed (six feet or shorter) outside buildings, lodging and beaches, per the DNR rules page; park-specific limits are listed below.
About The Park
The DNR describes it: Prairie lovers, this park is for you. Trails wind through one of Minnesota's finest and largest remnant prairies. Listen for bobolinks, prairie chickens, marbled godwits and upland sandpipers. A picnic area, riverside hiking trails and campground are located in the hardwood forest along the Buffalo River.
Wildlife. The prairie areas within the park, and scientific and natural area (SNA), are not just for the wildflower enthusiast. In spring, the song of the bobolink brings the prairie alive.
History. Established in 1937, the park bears the name of the river flowing through its boundaries. WPA labor was immediately put into action improving park infrastructure.
Geology. Eight to ten thousand years ago, glacial Lake Agassiz once covered over 200,000 square miles, including 17,000 square miles in Minnesota. The rise and fall of this ancient lake formed the dominant landscape features within the park.
Visit Facts
- Address565 155th Street South Glyndon, MN 56547
- Phone218-498-2124
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursFall 2026 Monday – Sunday: 8:00am – 4:00pm ***Hours may vary due to staff availability.***
- Emailbuffaloriver.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point46.87284, -96.47462 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Buffalo River State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Self-Guided | — | The park has one mile of self-guided trails. |
| Summer | Hiking | — | The park's 12 miles of mostly flat trails wind along the river and through forest and prairie. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | — | Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in the park. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | — | The park has 44 drive-in sites. You must be able to back into these sites. |
| Electric Sites | — | The park has 35 sites with 50, 30, and 20-amp hookups. |
| RV Length Limit | — | The max RV length is 60 feet. Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. |
| Accessible Sites | 2 accessible sites | The park has two drive-in fully accessible campsites. One has 50-amp electric hookup. Although there are only two fully accessible sites, all campsites in this park are on flat terrain. |
| Group Camp | — | The group camp is available seasonally. It accommodates up to 50 people. Only tents and pop-up campers are allowed. Vault toilets and water available nearby. |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing | — | Fish along the Buffalo River. |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | — | The picnic area sites between the parking lot and river. |
| Picnic Shelter | — | The park's enclosed accessible shelter has electricty. Reserve the picnic shelter online. |
| Warming House | — | The warming house next to the picnic shelter is only open during candlelight events. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | — | Visit the ranger station for vehicle permits and park information. |
| Naturalist Programs | — | SNA naturalist-led programs are available to groups by request. View programs on the events calendar. |
| Rentals | — | Fishing kits (rod, reel, stocked tackle box), birding kits, GPS units, and kids discovery kits (activities and stories designed for age 5-12) are available to check out for free at the ranger station. |
| Firewood | — | Purchase firewood at the ranger station or through Yodel. Gathering firewood in state parks is not allowed. Burn approved firewood only. |
| Ice Sales | — | Buy ice at the ranger station. |
Pets And Permits
Statewide, the DNR rules page says pets are welcome in state parks on a leash six feet or shorter, attended at all times; only service animals are allowed in buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas. A vehicle permit costs $7 a day or $35 a year (DNR fees page, read October 19, 2026). See the parks passport page for the full price list.
Directions
From Moorhead, go 14 miles east on U. S. Highway 10 and follow the signs to the park.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Maplewood State ParkState Park, about 33 miles away in a straight line
- Glendalough State ParkState Park, about 54 miles away in a straight line
What We Could Not Verify
- Current alerts, closures, trail and campground conditions: they change daily. Read the DNR park page before you go.
- County: the DNR page does not state it, so we do not print one.
- Fees for lodging and group sites, and day-by-day availability: set by the DNR reservation system.
- Permit prices were read on October 19, 2026 and the DNR page shows no effective date.
- The map point is the park’s printed coordinate, not a verified entrance.
More In Red River Valley
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Buffalo River State Park?
It is near Glyndon, Minnesota. The DNR address is 565 155th Street South Glyndon, MN 56547.
How much does it cost to visit Buffalo River State Park?
A one-day vehicle permit is $7 and a year-round permit is $35 on the DNR fees page we read on October 19, 2026. Check the fees page before you go.
Are dogs allowed at Buffalo River State Park?
Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter outside buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas, per the DNR rules page. The park page states no extra limits we could read.
Sources
- Buffalo River State Park (DNR Recreation Compass data) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park fees (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park rules (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota State Parks Passport, all places, park fees and rules.